P38 Good bits & bad bits.

OK, insanity has taken hold. Have a good, well specced (now) 300 Tdi Disco, and want to buy a second one. Having great difficulty finding a good well specced automatic. Had the mad idea that the P38 RR would fit the bill as virtually all have the toys we require.

I am completely aware of the air suspention problems, have had cars with this system (Mercedes) and really like it.

What other issues do you have on a DSE model and what is tyre wear like? Have BFG's on the Disco, still have the moulding pipps on the rears after 20.000 miles and counting. Will be putting the same on the RR as well.

Any helpful indicatons gratefully received. I am a reasonably competent home mechanic who knows when to give up and give the car to a pro.

Electronics can be tempermental especially if the battery is not top notch, plenty of other little problems but overall the diesel is not bad. Do a search, plenty of info on the problems. Get one that has had few owners with a good history and it will probably be OK, make sure the last owner had it for a good length of time, if it was just a few months it is probaly being sold due to problems. Budget to replace the airsprings if thay haven't been done.

I've had my P38 2.5 diesel automatic for six years now. I'm tempting fate by saying it, but maybe because its a year 2000, the infamous problems with the electronics have not plagued me (years 2000 on said to be improved). Fitted a 'Power Box' remap (from Rimmer Bothers) upon purchase. It just pepped it up a bit with no noticeable downside.

Sacrilege to some I know, but I replaced the air suspension with good springs and shocks a couple of years back - never regretted it. Slight difference in silky ride was noticed upon change, but forgotten it now (plus can't lower the height for grannies any more!).

Like you, I have regarded myself as a competent home mechanic (for over 40 years now), but have taken this vehicle in to good 4x4 merchants for heavier work on occasions. My philosophy has always been, look at the cost of a next generation model and compare your repair bills to such a purchase. You're getting a lot of vehicle here. Also, if I bought something like this again, that was five years old (25K plus?), I'd go through exactly the same learning/fixing curve that I've already experienced - and they're getting harder to maintain yourself/economically, the more recent they are. I think I'm heading towards my degree now (maybe only a 2/1): in knowledge about this vehicle - and I'm getting reluctant to discard all this.

I also had a Disco 300 TDI before this (wish I'd kept it as second vehicle).

This site is brilliant. Most of the time you don't need to post your queries, just do a 'search' on the problem (wish more would), but there's guys here who know anything you need - either as individuals, but certainly collectively.

Thank you Datatek & DougK. You both have confirmed my thoughts and am now happier in looking for the 'right' vehicle. As the Disco was the first non Mercedes we have had for many years, I was a little unsure about the running & maintainance. The Disco, however has been 98% reliable easy & cheap to maintain, very comforable over long distances (3000 mile round trip to the South of France) and generally enjoyable to own.

Our requirements are for a second 4x4 so thought I might buy a RR as it will be rather like my S Class, but able to go anywhere. Though you would be surprised where I took a 5 Litre Merc. Suffice to say it surprised the driver of the Defender, thank god for air suspention that allows you to jack up a 2.5 ton limo and head for the hills!!!!

Thanks again guys. P

DougK said:

My philosophy has always been, look at the cost of a next generation model and compare your repair bills to such a purchase. You're getting a lot of vehicle here. Also, if I bought something like this again, that was five years old (25K plus?), I'd go through exactly the same learning/fixing curve that I've already experienced - and they're getting harder to maintain yourself/economically, the more recent they are. I think I'm heading towards my degree now (maybe only a 2/1): in knowledge about this vehicle - and I'm getting reluctant to discard all this.

Click to expand...

Know what you mean.